Controversial soldier use: Trump appeased: Location in California under control

In the dispute over the use of the National Guard in California, US President Donald Trump signals a possible immersion. “The people in Los Angeles and California are lucky that we did what we did. We just interfered in time. It still simmered a bit, but not very strongly,” he said during a appearance in the White House about the protests against his immigration policy. These demonstrations were not an uprising – but without his intervention, it could have been one, the Republican claimed. He did not want a “civil war”, he emphasized on request.

In the United States, there is a fear that Trump could go one step further and impose a kind of war right by using an “insurrection act” known as “Insurrection Act”. He could use the regular military in Germany. Trump now seemed to refrain from this idea – without saying it so clearly. He also did not explicitly excluded the use of the approximately 500 naval fan of the regular armed forces – but said that he assumed that the situation in Los Angeles was good under control.

At the same time, Trump held his criticism of the California governor Gavin Newsom. He initially agreed with the idea of ​​having Newsom arrested – but later alleviated his rhetoric a little. The democrat is “roughly incompetent,” emphasized Trump. “In his own way, he is probably glad that I get involved.” He always got on well with him, said the Republican. But Newsom does a “terrible job”.

California is enough to comply with

Governor Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta meanwhile submitted a lawsuit against Trump, the Ministry of Defense and Minister Pete Hegseth. They accuse the Federal Government of taking control of the California National Guard for illegal and without the consent of the state. Newsom expressly objected to the operation and asked Hegseth in a letter to withdraw the troops – this application was ignored, said Bonta.

Normally, the states have control over this military reserve unit, which is part of the US forces. Each state has its own guard, which can be used in forest fires, hurricanes, floods or unrest inside. It is then under the command of the respective governor. If there is a war or national emergencies, the US President can take command.

According to the lawsuit, however, such an exceptional situation in Los Angeles was not available. Rather, the federal government itself contributed to the escalation with unannounced raids from the immigration authority ICE and the posting of troops. Bonta accused Trump of provoking chaos for political motives. “This is a abuse of power that we do not take lightly,” wrote California’s top lawyer at X.

Bass contradicts Trump’s presentation

Mayor Bass had previously commented similarly. “I don’t think the national guard is now needed,” she told CNN. The situation in Los Angeles is currently calm. Although she is sad about the “extent of vandalism in the form of graffiti”, this is only a few streets in the center. There are no nationwide unrest. Criminal offenses would have to be persecuted, there were also some arrests – however, a military operation was not necessary.

Trump had described his decision to mobilize the national guard as “excellent” on Truth. He accused Newsom and bass to trivialize the situation and to deceive the population over supposedly “peaceful protests”. Without the intervention of the troops, Trump said, Los Angeles would have been “completely destroyed”.

Debate for arresting newsom and bass

When asked by reporters, the US President initially approved the idea of ​​having newsoma arrested. “I would do it if I was Tom (…) It would be a great thing,” said the Republican, when asked by reporters, to testify to Tom Homan, who has the supervision of Trump’s deportation policy.

Homan had not excluded a possible arrest of Newsom and bass on the broadcaster NBC if you hinder the US government. Later, however, he described the presentation of the broadcaster as wrong and the debate about a arrest newsoma as “simply ridiculous”. It was not actively being considered to arrest Newsom, Homan clarified the Fox News broadcaster. He had generally explained that nobody was above the law – not even newsoma or bass -, there should be punishable behavior.

Highly unusual demonstration of power

Increased missions by the US immigration authority ICE triggered the first protests in the Los Angeles area at the end of last week. According to the authorities, dozens of people were arrested by the raids – including minors, including the newsom office. Critics accuse the Federal Government to specifically stir up fear with martial measures. The protests were directed against Trump’s hard immigration policy and the use of ICE units in civilian residential areas.

In response to the demonstrations, Trump had at least 2,000 soldiers from the National Guard mobilized on Saturday evening (local time). Around 300 soldiers of the National Guard – some in combat gear and with automatic weapons – then take a stand to protect the federal government from protests and vandalism. The use of the national guard without the governor’s consent is considered extremely unusual: since 1965 no US president had taken such a measure.

According to several US media, the situation in Los Angeles remains tense despite temporary calming. There were also minor protests in other US cities.